To explore the feasibility of the human tongue cancer cell (Tca-8113) targeting and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abilities of the folate mediated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (PEG-PCL-FA-SPIO) .

Both PEG-PCL-SPIO probes and PEG-PCL-FA-SPIO probes with folate targeted modification were prepared. The cytotoxicity of PEG-PCL-FA-SPIO was verified through MTT assay. Tca-8113 cell (1 × 10⁶) were cultured with PEG-PCL-SPIO (non-targeting) and PEG-PCL-FA-SPIO (folate targeting) , respectively. Each group underwent MRI scan after cultured for 0.5, 1, 2 h, and the relative T₂ values were recorded. Endocytosis of SPIO was observed through prussian blue staining.

The cell viability of PEG-PCL-FA-SPIO in different concentrations showed no statistical difference according to the MTT assay (F = 0.698, P = 0.676) . Both the two probes were cultured with Tca-8113 cells for 0.5, 1, 2 h, respectively and the MRI demonstrated decreased T₂WI signal intensity of both groups, especially at 2 h. The folate targeting group showed a more significant decrease of relative T₂ value at each time point (F = 518.064, P = 0.000) . Intracellular blue particles were observed in both groups after prussian blue staining, and the particles in folate targeting group were more than that of the non-targeting group.

PEG-PCL-FA-SPIO has favourable Tca-8113 cell targeting ability, and shows great potential in the early diagnosis of tongue cancer.